Vendetta

Chapter 14: Draco's Trial, Day 1

This time, however, the pair awakened at roughly the same time. Once each realised the other was awake, however, they smiled at each other before giving their customary morning kiss.

"You must be getting the hang of it, luv. Last time we did it, you slept for most of the day!"

"More likely just getting used to you," Harry countered. "In fact, I feel like I did after our rematch on my birthday. Like I had eight hours of uninterrupted sleep ... and it's been a long time since that happened."

"What matters is that you can have it now," Ginny returned with a smile, the way Harry was looking at her making her want to snog the daylights out of him ... but just as they began doing so, their interlude was interrupted by Molly calling everyone to breakfast.

"Bugger," Ginny muttered under her breath as she moved off him. "I was hoping for another rematch. Oh well, maybe after breakfast ..." Her voice trailed off as she reluctantly got dressed; she kissed him before leaving the room. "See you at breakfast, luv. Don't worry, I'll tell Mum you're coming."

Molly looked somewhat surprised at their showing up without her having to yell, but at the same time pleased not to have to risk losing her voice again. After everyone had a hearty breakfast, our couple decided to go back upstairs to their room, ostensibly for more studying, but in reality, Ginny had managed to convince Harry to do a rematch of their earlier interlude as they had done on his birthday. They might even decide to make it a regular thing on one another's birthdays, but that remained to be seen. All that mattered right now was being able to love one another again ... not only now, but for the rest of their lives.

* * * * *

Four days later, precisely at 8:45 a.m., the family was gathered in a large group, all ready to Apparate to the Courtroom of the Wizengamot at the Ministry. After everyone had joined hands, they then Apparated to just outside the Courtroom doors; a bustle of activity and voices could be heard from behind the doors as they approached them, getting louder as they opened it and entered.

The majority of the group headed for the observers' section while the others went to join the witnesses, both character (Ron and Hermione) and the witnesses which held the necessary evidence against Draco. Harry looked around for Draco, pleased to see that he was in the chained chair and Lucius nearby as support for his son. He was sure if the elder Malfoy saw him, there would be trouble, so he tried not to make himself any more conspicuous than he already felt, despite the fact that he had wanted this and worked hard to accomplish it. Just the same, it wasn't going to be easy to endure, not for any one of them on either side.

Instead, he looked around for his attorney, spotting him near the seats where the Wizengamot customarily sat and going over to speak with him. They smiled and greeted each other. "Are all the witnesses here?" he asked.

"As far as I know," came the reply.

"When were they going to start the trial?"

"As soon as everyone's arrived and settled ... which should be any time now."

Not long afterward the half-dozen witches and half-dozen wizards, one of whom closely resembling Dumbledore (Harry was sure this had to be his old headmaster's brother, Aberforth, they looked so alike), filed in and took their seats, then the older wizard put the tip of his wand to his throat and spoke so everyone could hear.

"This is an official trial of the Wizengamot, the main legal body of the Ministry of Magic. We are gathered here today, at 9 a.m. on August 16, 1998, to determine the guilt or innocence of one Draco Lucius Malfoy, presently accused of the kidnap and rape of Miss Ginevra Weasley, youngest child and only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley, on June 18, 1997 at the Malfoy family home. Is the prosecution counsel ready?"

Harry's attorney spoke clear and true. "Yes, your honour."

"Defence counsel?"

"Yes, your honour," came the cold, crisp reply from the Malfoys' direction and Harry noted a tall, thin wizard reminiscent of Sirius and about the same age, but only in looks. His demeanour was the polar opposite.

After opening arguments from both sides had been presented, the wizard who resembled Dumbledore said, "Call your first witness, counsel for the prosecution."

"Prosecution calls Harry James Potter," the attorney said; Harry took his place in the witnesses' chair. "Please state your name for the record."

"Harry James Potter," was the reply.

"You have been ... acquainted with the accused for some years, have you not, Mr. Potter?"

"I have," Harry confirmed.

"Have you ever personally known him to do anything like this before?"

"Not to my knowledge, although I'm given to understand that he has done ... other things which could be construed as such. I assume your honour has the body of evidence from the Ministry I sent earlier concerning this?"

"Yes," the older wizard confirmed. "It shows that the defendant has a history of abducting and raping young witches, twelve at present count, the first attack having occurred four years ago, the latest being Miss Weasley fourteen months ago, usually by rendering them unconscious, then tying them up and bearing them to his home with the intent of ... sexually assaulting them."

"Yes, sir," Harry confirmed. "And if you want details of ... Miss Weasley's abduction, I'll be happy to provide them. But first, for the record, I wish to state that I'm willing to take a dose of Veritaserum in order to ensure that the full truth about the incident is known by the court."

His eyes searched for Ginny and their gazes locked; he was pleased to see that Ron and Hermione flanked her on each side, each holding a hand. He tried to smile reassuringly, but couldn't be sure if he had succeeded; finally she smiled bravely and drew herself up to her full sitting height. Finally, after taking the swallow of the strong truth serum, Harry began.

By this time, he knew that Lucius knew he was there and that it was only a matter of time before he lashed out; Harry could only do the best he possibly could to be prepared for it and hope that Lucius had not been allowed to bring his wand into the courtroom; otherwise things could get very nasty, indeed. Usually it was Wizengamot policy to confiscate wands of all witnesses and observers from both sides in order to ensure maximum safety of all witnesses and observers, the two boxes being about as polarized as you could get. Just the same, Harry didn't put anything past Lucius; after all, being a Death Eater, he was likely to know numerous wandless, nonverbal (and Dark) ways of causing magical havoc.

"We had had a Quidditch practice game scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on June 18, and ... Miss Weasley, being one of the Chasers, was supposed to play, but never showed up. I was Captain of the team and couldn't help wondering why; finally a friend of mine, Neville Longbottom, rushed onto the pitch and told me that he had been witness to her abduction. You also have Neville's testimony, your honour, and each of you have listened to it?"

The older wizard nodded.

"Good. Well, to continue, I ... strongly suspected where she had been taken and headed there as rapidly as possible. Upon my arrival there, Draco came out and told me what he had done to her. In addition, he showed no regret nor remorse whatsoever."

"Are you referring to the sexual assault, Mr. Potter?" the attorney inquired.

"Yes, sir. He ... even said that my Muggle cousin, his accomplice, was presently having his own way with her, even as we spoke."

"I recall your telling me that this was the point at which your friends arrived, one Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, to back you up."

"Yes, sir. Ron is one of the victim's ... Miss Weasley's ... older brothers; Ms. Granger is a close friend of hers--and mine."

Harry shot a glance in the elder Malfoy's direction; he looked like he was ready to pop, he was so angry, but he couldn't deny any of what Harry said because of the Veritaserum he had taken. Just the same, even Veritaserum wasn't foolproof, although this was a new batch, having just been brewed, so it was unlikely to be defective ... again, standard Wizengamot policy to ensure total and complete truth from witnesses.

"What happened then?" the attorney prompted.

"We ... ordered Draco to bring her back to us. He did so, although he did not dress her. Instead, he simply wrapped her in a blanket and handed her to me. We then took her to St. Mungo's for treatment."

"How long was she there?"

"Two days, sir."

"May we know the Healers' findings?"

"Yes, sir," Harry agreed. He exchanged glances with the attorney, who then called out, "I call Healer Araminta Higgenbottom to the stand. Mr. Potter, you are excused." When the aforementioned Healer passed him, they nodded in each other's direction as he headed back to join his friends.

Shortly after Harry sat down beside Ginny and took her hand, Hermione having moved over one, the Healer's testimony began.

"Healer Higgenbottom, how long have you worked at St. Mungo's?"

"Thirteen years, your honour," she replied.

"You were on duty the night of June 18, 1997, were you not?"

"I was," came the confirmation.

"Were you the one to examine Miss Weasley?"

"I was."

"Please tell us your findings, for the record."

"Very well. My findings showed that she had been ... sexually assaulted in a brutal manner, both vaginally and anally. She was even bleeding from both spots, and to close her wounds required minor surgery."

"Would you say that the number and severity of her wounds indicated that there had been more than one attacker?"

"Most assuredly," came another confirmation.

"Were you also aware that Miss Weasley had been drugged?"

"Yes, your honour, although by this time the effects of the drug had worn off."

"Can you tell us what kind of drug was used?"

"Amortentia, a strong love potion."

"Can you tell us anything else?"

"I was given to understand by the victim's boyfriend, young Potter, that young Malfoy had also given her a hypnotic suggestion that young Potter had done it rather than himself and his Muggle accomplice, young Potter's cousin, in an attempt to implicate him in her assault and cover up their own actions in the matter."

"Is there any concrete proof of this?"

"Yes, sir. I have even been informed that Miss Weasley has been taking rape counseling for the past six months at St. Mungo's; her counselor's findings have also been admitted as evidence, if memory serves."

"Is her counselor present at this time, Mr. Potter?" the attorney called to him.

"I believe so, sir," Harry replied, looking around for Arabella and spotting her a short distance away, having silently observed the proceedings prior to this point. "She has also told me that she is willing to testify in the prosecution's behalf."

The attorney then exchanged glances with the Dumbledore-like head of the Wizengamot, who then called out, "I call psychiatric Healer Arabella Collingsworth to the stand. You are excused, Healer Higgenbottom." Araminta Higgenbottom smiled, nodded and stepped down, returning to her seat in the witnesses' section.

Once Arabella had taken her colleague's place, the older wizard said, "I understand you are a psychiatric Healer."

"Yes, your honour. I specialize in women's issues, particularly rape. Miss Weasley's case was referred to me fourteen months ago. I was informed that she had been having recurrent nightmares about the night of her abduction, fighting and screaming in her sleep. That is when it was decided that she obtain counseling in order to deal with the nightmares."

"May I ask who requested this counseling?"

"Young Potter, sir, Miss Weasley's boyfriend. However, it was done with the full knowledge and consent of the Weasley family."

Everyone turned in Harry's direction but he pretended not to notice their scrutiny, simply tightened his hold on Ginny's hand. Finally the attention of the assemblage was re-directed to Arabella.

"Has she shown any improvement since your counseling sessions began?"

"Markedly," Arabella reported. "There has been a considerable drop in the amount and severity of her nightmares. She has also shown considerably less reluctance for physical contact from family, friends and her ... romantic interest, young Potter, who has also been sitting in with her during the sessions."

That was when the other attorney seemed to come to life. "Objection! Only the victims themselves are supposed to be in with the counselor."

"Not any more," Arabella went on. "It is now permitted for one family member or close friend to sit in on counseling sessions, if the victim requests it."

That seemed to deflate the other attorney considerably, and he didn't speak again for some time, simply exchanged glances with Lucius. Harry could also feel Lucius's cold eyes on him, certain that he would have killed him if it had been possible here. Just the same, he intended to ask his attorney to order bodyguards for him and the Weasley family outside the Courtroom for the duration of the trial (and possibly after) for Harry and company's own protection.

"Do you believe that Miss Weasley will continue to need counseling?"

"Definitely," Arabella declared. "She has ... improved greatly, but her assault was brutal and in cases like this, it often takes many months, if not years, of counseling, for the victim and those closest to her to achieve closure and deal with the aftereffects of the attack. I firmly believe that this will be necessary with Miss Weasley."

"I am also given to understand that Miss Weasley and young Potter recently became engaged to be married."

"Yes, your honour," Arabella confirmed.

"Do you believe this will be therapeutic for her or what?"

"It's always ... therapeutic, as you put it, for the victim of virtually any physical assault, rape in particular, if she can manage to achieve both regular emotional and physical closeness with someone close to her, be it a romantic interest or family member."

"Do you believe she's ready for such ... closeness?"

"I do," Arabella confirmed, casting a lingering glance in Harry and Ginny's direction; sitting side-by-side, hands tightly and intricately entwined, the pair exchanged tender glances in the prosecution witnesses' box. Arabella smiled knowingly to herself before returning her attention to the head of the Wizengamot. "In fact, it has been ... instrumental in her more-rapid-than-usual recovery."

"Have you anything to add?" was the final question.

"No, your honour. What I've not said here is in my report. Peruse it at your leisure."

"Thank you, Healer Collingsworth. You are excused." Arabella smiled, stood up and took her leave. The older wizard then returned his gaze to the prosecution attorney. "Have you any more witnesses to call, Counselor?"

The attorney, one C. Thomas Howard, also a noted wizard and a long-time member of the Order of the Phoenix, said, "One more, your honour. I call Ms. Hermione Jane Granger to the stand."

Everyone's eyes, including those of Ron, Harry and Ginny were on Hermione as she made her way to the witnesses' chair and seated herself.

"State your name for the record," the older wizard directed.

"Hermione Jane Granger."

"You are a close friend of Harry Potter and Miss Ginevra Weasley, are you not?"

"Yes, your honour. I have known them for six years. We went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at first, then upon our graduation this past June, I became engaged to one Ronald Bilius Weasley, Harry's closest friend and ... Ginny's older brother. We are due to be married this Christmas."

"Congratulations. Now if we may get on with the testimony?"

"Of course, your honour."

"What can you tell this court as to their character?"

"Harry is basically a gentle, caring person, but has experienced much emotional and physical abuse in his life. Just the same, it takes a lot to arouse his anger. However, once it is aroused, it's best to stay out of his way. Otherwise, he's just as likely to hex you as look at you."

"Are you saying that when he's angry, he becomes violent?"

"Generally, only if provoked beyond endurance, and not always then. Ginny's abduction is a case in point. I was given to understand that he was ... quite angry at Malfoy for his abduction of her and intended revenge; however, upon arrival, seemed to have a change of heart, because when Ron and I arrived, all he and Malfoy were doing was talking. Even at that, I still detected great hatred and contempt for him and his actions on Harry's part, simply from his tone of voice.

"After we had gotten Ginny to St. Mungo's for treatment, Harry chose to maintain a vigil at Ginny's side, somehow feeling responsible for being unable to prevent her assault and unwilling to leave her side, even when both Ron and I pleaded with him. He has even been the one to cover her medical expenses, both at St. Mungo's and with the psychiatric Healer."

This was a new thing to the rest of the Weasleys, all of whom exchanged glances of stunned surprise, having been told that the medical services had been donated--although Ron, being Harry's closest friend, had known otherwise for some time. "However, Harry has told me more than once that he will not accept any monetary compensation from them. His main concern is that Ginny recover, both emotionally and physically. He didn't do it to be compensated; he did it out of love for Ginny."

"What can you tell me about ... Ginny?"

"Despite the reputation of redheads for having wicked tempers, Ginny generally doesn't show hers either, unless provoked beyond endurance, like Harry. However, when she is, watch out!"

"Are you saying that she is a violent person when angry?"

"As I said, generally only when provoked beyond endurance. For the most part, Ginny is quite gentle and sweet-natured."

"What about her interactions with the opposite sex?"

"She has had several boyfriends before Harry ... but since their reunion, they have shared an exclusive relationship. As mentioned earlier, they are engaged and will be married upon Ginny's graduation from Hogwarts next June. Incidentally, she is taking home courses so as not to fall behind on her witchcraft studies. She is due to take her NEWT tests in a few months, in fact."

"Have you ever known her to have any physical interaction with the accused prior to this?"

"Never. Ginny dislikes Draco intensely. And even with her ... former boyfriends, the most that was ever between them was snogging."

"What about her interactions with Harry?"

"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to divulge that information, your honour. That is a private matter, just between the two of them. However, I can say that they are very much in love, and I expect them to remain so."

"Does her family approve of her relationship with young Potter?"

"Definitely. They have even informally adopted him as another son, and since his leaving his former home on Privet Drive in Little Whinging, Surrey, several months ago, he has moved in with the Weasleys and will remain there until he and Ginny are married and purchase their own dwelling."

"Have you anything further to add?"

"Only that her family has requested me to inform you that Ginny has never been, and will never be, sexually promiscuous, no matter what certain others present may try to do to convince you otherwise. They, and we, Ron and I, not to mention Harry, know her best, and feel confident in the accuracy of same." Hermione was unable to help a smug smirk in Lucius's direction and saw his face darken even further, but again, he didn't dare say anything, since Hermione had also taken a swallow of Veritaserum (as had all the other witnesses) to ensure the truthfulness of her testimony.

"Thank you, Ms. Granger. You may be excused." Hermione smiled, then stood up and took her leave, returning to her seat between Ron and Harry, who now had a protective arm around his fiancée; her head was cradled on his shoulder.

"This concludes today's testimony for the prosecution. Testimony for the defence will commence upon the court's re-convening tomorrow morning at ten a.m. This court is now adjourned."

With that, everyone present prepared to leave, the defendant and his backers first, then the rest of the witnesses after Harry and company had thanked them for their testimony. There has been no time for the Muggle doctor to give testimony today, although if there was time tomorrow, C. Thomas had promised that he would have the opportunity then, so Harry had best contact him and tell him where to come, as well as to bring the results of Ginny's medical exam with him. Harry made a mental note to do so upon arrival home.

"Did you see the look on Lucius's face, Harry? I feel sure he would have killed you if he could," Hermione remarked, again with a smug smirk. "And let me tell you, I enjoyed throwing that last bit in his face. He deserves it after all the evil he and Draco have done!"

"Just the same, I can tell that this was not easy for Ginny to endure," Harry countered, giving Ginny another look of mixed love and concern. "In fact, I'm even considering asking C. Thomas and Arabella if she can't sit the rest of this trial out."

This was when Ginny seemed to come back to life. "Your concern is appreciated, luv, but I don't want to miss a moment of the trial, however hard it may be on me. I especially want to hear sentence pronounced on that slimy git for what he did to me. You and Arabella will just have to do what you usually do and help me deal with any ... adverse aftereffects."

Harry was still reluctant, but knew it was all but useless to argue with Ginny once she had made up her mind. "If you say so. I just hope we don't end up regretting it." At the mention of Malfoy, however, the mental picture of Draco chained into the criminal's chair brought a smile to Harry's lips ... lips which usually had little reason to smile, but now after this, would have more reason than ever, particularly if Draco and Dudley were both convicted of their crime against Ginny. Best of all, Harry intended to be instrumental in the conviction of both.

"We'd better get home now," he announced to everyone. "Especially since Ginny and I are due to start our extra Transfiguration courses so that we may become Animagi." No one argued with him, and eventually the entire group had once again gathered together in the outside corridor from the Courtroom and Apparated back to the Burrow, already mentally and emotionally preparing themselves for what tomorrow's testimony was likely to bring.